|
Title:
|
SOCIAL NETWORKING AMONG THE SOUTH AFRICAN YOUTH: ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES |
|
Author(s):
|
Yoliswa Makhasi, Antoinette Basson |
|
ISBN:
|
978-989-8533-01-2 |
|
Editors:
|
Bebo White, Pedro Isaías and Flávia Maria Santoro |
|
Year:
|
2011 |
|
Edition:
|
Single |
|
Keywords:
|
New media, social networking, adolescents, youth |
|
Type:
|
Short Paper |
|
First Page:
|
421 |
|
Last Page:
|
426 |
|
Language:
|
English |
|
Cover:
|
|
|
Full Contents:
|
click to dowload 
|
|
Paper Abstract:
|
New media technology plays a significant role in the lives of young people. The research study investigated new media usage and behaviour among the South African youth. It was found that new media, more specifically the Internet and cell phones, have been taken-up with great eagerness by the youth and social networking has grown in prominence. The more adolescents engage with social networking, the more they benefit from the identified advantages but also run the risk of being exposed to potential dangers. It was found that, primarily, social networking enables adolescents to contact friends and interact with them on a social level. However, despite the risk awareness among adolescents, they can easily become victims of online exploitation, which can take on different forms including sexual solicitation, harassment and online bullying. The challenge is to allow adolescents to benefit from social networking, while at the same time keep them aware and protected from potential dangers. The research findings presented in this paper provided significant insight into the relationship between social networking and adolescents in South Africa, an area in which future research is warranted. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
